Like that other poster said. Million dollar question. Nobody knows. Anything is possible. Could be localized. Could not. I'm not a chemist either is my dad but that area is comprimized. The right mixture. The right combinations of ingrediants. Chain reactions. Only god knows. I just have a bad feeling. My dad advised everybody, Family not to go to Yuma for the Winter. Some went anyways. He said thats not far enough away if shit happens. To close to the New Madrid also. Which way would you run...?

Wow...that effectively means that EVERYWHERE in the vicinity may have the same risk associated...

the key is the correct mix of methane and oxygen...chances are slim but it has and can happen. An explosion could be absolutely devastating.

I am wondering what position the rest of the caverns are in....is the butane at more risk? That would be an astronomical disaster but from what I understand the chances are slim of a butane explosion??...because the butane is so dense it would sit at the bottom of the cavern even if the top was breached...but what about if the bottom was breached? ALso, to remove the butane they pump salt water which is heavier than the butane in to the cavern...thus the butane rises and can be removed.

Quoting: taniatarn

If just one of these cavern's ignite, it could ignite the other cavern's in a dominoe effect, there is not any hard stone seperating these cavern's. Mudstone, and sandstone do not stand a chance in this type of explosion... neither would the cavern's. I am starting to think two thing's about this... A. It's a big non event, this isn't the first sinkhole in lousiansa to collapse because of cavern failure. Or B. This is a man made event set to rip the us in two.

Quoting: BULLDOZER

If you check out some of the info that has been compiled in other threads, the answer unfortunately is B.

We need a custom made animation of the whole world turning into a sinkhole. Photoshop gurus get to work.

Ideas? How about a smile face dude digging a hole for oil. It squirts and then sinks into a sinkhole where upon the smile retreats a few yards back, then waits a few and digs at the side...causing ground to shake immediately, then pull back and the whole world sinks into a huge sinkhole and melts into space.

why haven t i heard about "sinkholes", in the last few years? why do they keep pooping up now? and in such large quantities as it seems... 5 years ago, a sinkhole was just a small hole in the road due to erosion of the ground... where do these come from now? why are they an issue all of the sudden?they seem like a fad, just like the Mayan date in 2012

Which leaves the million dollar question, where did all that methane and crude come from in the first place? That's not what the dome was storing at the time.

Quoting: Anonymous Coward 27262302

Its coming from the field thats under the whole area for miles and miles. Pressure from the field is driving all the gas to the surface. Following the path of least resistance. The pressure under that field has been historically high and they should not drill there. The pressure has been increasing. Another Blowout the other day in the area proves it and they know its happening but can't do nothing about it.

This is a Mother Nature Event. Made worse by Humans and all their super straws and worse by all the toxins stored in the Salt Caverns in the area. BOOM. Down She Goes. That whole area for hundreds of miles.

Quoting: TrinityMountain

I read were the bottom/floor of the sinkhole has actually lifted or pushed upwards 30 feet because of so much pressure underneath, and that they're measuring about 1,000 psi. They said it takes about, by estimates, 75 psi. for the gas/methane to start escaping and go boom, provided the correct fuel/O2 flash point and heat source, of course. Otherwise, no boom, but deadly gas event that can kill nearby people.

How long you figure they have to evacuate? Even if it keeps causing blowouts, how likely is it to ignite the whole pocket? Geez, how far would you even have to get clear?

Quoting: Anonymous Coward 27262302

My Dad was an Oil and Gas Engineer for 40 years. He says 500 sq miles and the Coast Line for a thousand to be safe. Might even nudge the New Madrid. I would have been gone along time ago but I think the critical mass is about to be breached. Were close guys. I've been posting this explaination from my Dad for months. Holding my breath. Get the fuck out of there you guys. NOW.

Quoting: TrinityMountain

Evacuate up to a thousand miles? That's crazy. NOT possible to evacuate that many people. Why is ENews the only one that even covers this? I think there is much exaggeration in this sinkhole. As far as the blow up possibilities go. I don't doubt it could grow larger.

How long you figure they have to evacuate? Even if it keeps causing blowouts, how likely is it to ignite the whole pocket? Geez, how far would you even have to get clear?

Quoting: Anonymous Coward 27262302

My Dad was an Oil and Gas Engineer for 40 years. He says 500 sq miles and the Coast Line for a thousand to be safe. Might even nudge the New Madrid. I would have been gone along time ago but I think the critical mass is about to be breached. Were close guys. I've been posting this explaination from my Dad for months. Holding my breath. Get the fuck out of there you guys. NOW.

Quoting: TrinityMountain

Honestly...I know its a terrible thought that people wont be able to go home again. But I cant see this ending any other way....its not going to just stop and in fact most likely will get far worse.

Permanent evacuation is the most likely outcome...but how far? They really need to investigate the entire area thoroughly. There has been a lot of new bubbling at Lake Peigneur and problems with other salt domes. I have read reports of people who live in the vicinity of the Blue Bayou saltdome west of Baton Rouge that they no longer have any drainage..water just sits where previously the drainage was great. Like it is permanently sodden. It is a very widespread issue.....

I mean...look at the GOM. Its a disaster already ...and it can only get worse.What a wreck man has made of this planet.

TrinityMountain, are you suggesting widespread explosions across the country or atleast in areas spread out among the country, in these caverns?

Sounds like some good doom to me

Quoting: Anonymous Coward 25845227

Like that other poster said. Million dollar question. Nobody knows. Anything is possible. Could be localized. Could not. I'm not a chemist either is my dad but that area is comprimized. The right mixture. The right combinations of ingrediants. Chain reactions. Only god knows. I just have a bad feeling. My dad advised everybody, Family not to go to Yuma for the Winter. Some went anyways. He said thats not far enough away if shit happens. To close to the New Madrid also. Which way would you run...?

Quoting: TrinityMountain

Hey, Trinity Muntain --I'm not disputing what you or your Dad says, but in an earlier post, you mentioned evacuating for 500 square miles and along 1,000 miles of coastline. So, forgive my ignorance, but what does Yuma have to do with this if you are talking about Yuma, Arizona -- the only Yuma I could locate through Google. Yuma, AZ is about 1,500 miles away from that area.

Wow...that effectively means that EVERYWHERE in the vicinity may have the same risk associated...

the key is the correct mix of methane and oxygen...chances are slim but it has and can happen. An explosion could be absolutely devastating.

I am wondering what position the rest of the caverns are in....is the butane at more risk? That would be an astronomical disaster but from what I understand the chances are slim of a butane explosion??...because the butane is so dense it would sit at the bottom of the cavern even if the top was breached...but what about if the bottom was breached? ALso, to remove the butane they pump salt water which is heavier than the butane in to the cavern...thus the butane rises and can be removed.

Quoting: taniatarn

If just one of these cavern's ignite, it could ignite the other cavern's in a dominoe effect, there is not any hard stone seperating these cavern's. Mudstone, and sandstone do not stand a chance in this type of explosion... neither would the cavern's. I am starting to think two thing's about this... A. It's a big non event, this isn't the first sinkhole in lousiansa to collapse because of cavern failure. Or B. This is a man made event set to rip the us in two.

Quoting: BULLDOZER

If you check out some of the info that has been compiled in other threads, the answer unfortunately is B.

Quoting: Vic-chick13

You are right, maybe it is just wishful thinking on my part that it wasn't true. I'm not too worried at the moment, but in the future I see this getting really ugly and my big concern is lightning.

Please note : Where appropriate for posted images/ graphs I acknowledge the New Zealand GeoNet project and its sponsors EQC, GNS Science and LINZ, for providing data/images used in my study and analyses of Volcanic and Earthquake information in New Zealand.